State Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, says transparency in drafting the state budget will be his priority as he takes over as House majority leader for the new legislative term.

It is a job that conjures notions of backroom deal making and vote trading, and if that doesn't work, a bit of arm twisting.

Some might have raised an eyebrow when the soft-spoken state Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, was announced as incoming Speaker Richard Corcoran's choice to be majority leader in the Florida House of Representatives. The announcement came Wednesday; Corcoran says he knew much earlier.

"If you watch Ray on the floor or if you watch him or talk to him on the bills that he sponsors, Ray researches his bills as good or better than any legislator," said Corcoran in a telephone interview with The News-Press. "He's an absolute principled conservative."

Rodrigues said he and Corcoran share a similar agenda.

"Becoming more transparent, raising the ethical standards on ourselves,and putting in more accountability in the process," he said. "Those were the nexus of our conversations."

"Ray Rodrigues will do a great job in that position because he is well though of, he's very influential and the important thing is it’s great news for Lee County because that will put him in a position of influence," said incoming Collier County Commissioner Burt Sanders, who has served in the state senate and as Lee County's lobbyist in Tallahassee.

Rodrigues points to the 2016 presidential election, and grassroots support for Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump, as representing a demand for change that spans the political spectrum.

"The enthusiasm in both parties, both far left and right, was with the person who is not part of the process," Rodrigues said. "Voters have lost confidence in the process, anything we can do as members of the Florida House to restore that confidence is a step in the right direction."

On Thursday, Corcoran unveiled new House rules intended to increase budget transparency. Members will have to file a bill to add funding, no longer can they ask a conference committee member for the favor of quietly tucking money into a bill.

Rodrigues will help sell and enforce the new rules.

"If you're not proud enough to say, 'yes, that's my item, I put it in the budget,' then maybe it shouldn't be in the budget in the first place," Rodrigues said.

"He's one of those guys who understands the value of words and uses them in a persuasive manner," Corcoran said in a telephone interview with The News-Press. "He's one of the members who when they debate on the floor, everyone sits in their chairs, he has that kind of impact."

Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson agrees that Rodrigues commands the kind of respect that will help him in the role.

"He is well though of, he's very influential," Henderson said. "Its great news for Lee County because that will put him in a position of influence to benefit the citizens."

There is an expectation locally that Rodrigues will be a powerful ally for Southwest Florida.

"There will be some legislative issues that are going to be important to both Collier and Lee counties," said Saunders. "Having a majority leader from Southwest Florida will be important."

Rodrigues cautions, thought, that the leadership role means a different type of responsibility.

"I'm not sure if it would be proper for me to leverage my position to get special consideration for my district," he said.

Southwest Florida already has potent influence in the state capital, with Gov. Rick Scott of Collier County, outgoing Senate President pro tem Garrett Richter, R-Bonita Springs, and now Rodrigues and Rep. Matt Caldwell, R- North Fort Myers, who was named chairman of the Government Accountability Committee by Corcoran this week.

Another regional lawmaker will also take a pivotal post in the new Legislature.

Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, was named by Corcoran as the budget chief. His district extends into Collier County. As chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Trujillo, R-Miami, will oversee the assembly of the version of the state budget proposed by the House.

Trujillo will be forced to find ways to trim the state budget to avoid a predicted $2 billion revenue gap in coming years.

“I think the fact that we don’t have a lot of money will give me the opportunity to lead and help cut out some of the bad items in the budget,” Trujillo said. “I will be ready for that.”

Arek Sarkissian of the Naples Daily News contributed to this story

Connect with this reporter at bsmith@news-press.com and on Twitter @BillSmithSWFL